System and method of wagering on a plurality of events

ABSTRACT

A system and method for concurrently wagering on multiple past events such as sports events that may include retrieving data about multiple events that occurred in the past that included multiple participants. The data may include information about the participants as well as pre-event rankings, and final or post-event rankings ordering the results with respect to other participants in the same event. A user may adjust the pre-event rankings or accept them as-is. The user&#39;s rankings for the participants of the events may be submitted, and a prize calculated based on the difference between the predicted rankings submitted by the user, and the final rankings of the participants based on actual past events. Various terminals, terminal configurations, and user interface aspects are also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/541,175 filed Sep. 27, 2017. U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/541,175 is a nationalization of International Application No.PCT/US15/067688 filed Dec. 12, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/100,242 filed Jan. 1, 2015, theentire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The disclosed system and related methods of operation generally relateto betting on multiple past events, concurrently, such as, for example,multiple horse races, dog races, automobile races, or any other suitableevent, in a pari-mutuel environment.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a method of wagering on past events that includescontrolling an input device to accept a wager amount defining an amountof a currency to wager, wherein the input device is controlled by aprocessor. The processor may be used to initiate a transfer of theamount of currency to wager into a common prize pool, and may query adatabase to automatically retrieve data about multiple events thatoccurred in the past and included multiple participants. The data aboutthe events may include a final ranking for respective multipleparticipants ranking the participants with respect to other participantswho competed in the same event. The method may further includecontrolling the input device to accept predicted rankings for theparticipants of the events using the processor. These predicted rankingsmay indicate what a user believes the final rankings will be for themultiple participants competing in their respective events. Theprocessor may be used to calculate a final score based on the similaritybetween the predicted rankings and the final rankings of theparticipants in their respective events. The processor may alsocalculate a prize which may be calculated based on the final score andthe wager input. The prize may include or consist of an item such as apiece of jewelry or a currency amount. The processor may be used toinitiate a transfer of the prize out of the common prize pool when theprize amount is greater than zero.

In another aspect, the method may include calculating a pre-eventranking for the participants using the processor. The pre-event rankingmay be calculated based on individual odds of the participants finishingwith a particular ranking for their respective events. The individualodds may have been calculated before the respective events occurred inthe past, and may be included in the data about the events.

In another example, a method of wagering on past events includesentering an amount to be wagered using an input device coupled to aprocessor, wherein the processor may be configured to initiate atransfer of the amount to be wagered into a common prize pool. Themethod may also include entering a separate predicted ranking formultiple participants of multiple events (such as sporting events)completed in the past using the input device coupled to the processor,wherein data about the multiple participants is retrieved from adatabase using the processor, wherein the predicted rankings are enteredby changing an initial ranking calculated by the processor based on theprobability of each participant obtaining the highest ranking among allparticipants for a particular event, and wherein the probability of eachparticipant obtaining the highest final ranking in their respectiveevent was calculated before the multiple events took place and stored inthe database as part of the data about the multiple participants. Themethod may also include requesting the calculation of a final prizeamount using the input device, wherein the final prize amount is acurrency amount calculated using the processor based on the differencebetween the predicted and actual final rankings of the participants inthe multiple selected events that occurred in the past.

As disclosed herein, the past events may be sporting events such ashorse races, wherein the participants are horses, wherein the predictedranking is the predicted order of finish for the horses in each of thehorse races, and where the final ranking is the actual order of finishfor the horses competing in their respective races.

In another aspect, the methods disclosed herein may include calculatingthe final score by optionally generating a wager result. The wagerresult may be generated by comparing the predicted ranking to the finalranking for each participant of each event using the processor. Aprobability of occurrence may be optionally assigned to each wagerresult using the processor. The processor may also query the data aboutthe events to determine the frequency of the outcome represented by thewager result. The wager result may optionally include a first identifierfor each participant in each event wherein the final ranking andpredicted ranking match, and a second identifier for each participant ineach event wherein the final ranking and predicted ranking do not match.The prize amount may be optionally calculated using the probability ofoccurrence assigned to the wager result, and wherein wager results witha probability below a predetermined threshold result in a zero prizeamount.

In another aspect, the data about the multiple events retrieved from thedatabase may be randomly selected from the events stored in thedatabase. The method may also optionally include retrieving multipleevents such as two or more events, three or more events, five or moreevents, or any other suitable number of events greater than one.

In another aspect, the terminal disclosed may include an electronicscanning device configured to accept paper currency or a credit voucher.The electronic scanning device may be configured to operate inconjunction with the input device to enter and accept the amount to bewagered. In another aspect, the electronic scanning device may be a billor coin acceptor controlled by the processor.

In another aspect, the methods disclosed herein may include using theprocessor to control a display device to display a video representationof at least one of the multiple events on the display device.

The methods disclosed above may further include requesting the transferof the final prize amount using the input device, wherein the processoris configured to initiate the transfer of the final prize amount fromthe common prize pool.

In another aspect, the terminal disclosed herein includes a databasewhich is stored in an electronic storage device mounted within theterminal. The database may optionally be stored in an electronic storagedevice mounted outside the terminal, and wherein the processor iscoupled to the database using a computer network.

In another aspect, the events disclosed are dog races, wherein theparticipants are dogs, wherein the predicted ranking is the predictedorder of finish for the dogs in each of the dog races, and wherein thefinal ranking is the actual order of finish for the dogs competing intheir respective races.

In another aspect, the events disclosed are team competitions, whereinthe participants are teams of individual competitors, wherein thepredicted ranking is the predicted outcome for the team in each of theteam competitions, and wherein the final ranking is the actual outcomefor the teams competing in their respective team competitions.

Also disclosed is a system configured to perform some or all of thedisclosed methods. The system may have a display device configured todisplay output to a user, an input device configured to accept inputfrom a user, a processor coupled to a memory, the display device, andthe input device, and a computer network accessible by the processor.The processor may be configured to access a database using the computernetwork. The system may also include an electronic wagering terminal.The display device, processor, and memory may be mounted to theterminal.

Any system disclosed herein may also include a process control moduleconfigured to use the processor to initiate a transfer of an amount tobe wagered into a common prize pool, and to use the processor toinitiate a transfer of a prize amount out of the common prize pool whenthe prize amount is greater than zero, wherein the common prize pool maybe maintained in the database.

A system may further include an event selection engine configured to usethe processor to retrieve event data about multiple selected events thatoccurred in the past from a database, wherein the event data includesdata about multiple participants participating in the selected events.

A pre-event ranking module may be included and configured to calculatean initial ranking for each participant using the processor, wherein theinitial ranking is calculated using odds of each respective participantcompleting the event with the highest final ranking determined in thepast before the event took place.

A user interface module may be included and configured to control thedisplay device to display the initial rankings using the processor. Ascoring module may also be included and configured to calculate a finalscore based on the similarities or differences between the user selectedrankings for the participants and final rankings of the participantsusing the processor, wherein the final rankings are ranked according tothe actual results of the event that occurred in the past. A prizeselection module may also be included and configured to calculate theprize amount using the processor, wherein the prize amount may be anitem, a currency amount, or any other valuable asset transferred basedon the final score and the amount to be wagered.

In another aspect, the user interface module may be configured to acceptuser input defining user selected rankings, wherein the user selectedrankings are defined by changing the initial rankings for at least oneparticipant for at least one of the selected events using the inputdevice.

Further forms, objects, features, aspects, benefits, advantages, andembodiments of the present invention will become apparent from adetailed description and drawings provided herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is flow chart illustrating one example of a method of wagering onmultiple past events.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate various user interface components for presentingoutput and accepting input according to a method like the method of FIG.1.

FIG. 5 illustrates aspects of determining the prize amount for a methodlike the method of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 illustrates another user interface for presenting output andaccepting input according to a method like the method of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of one example of a system forperforming aspects of a method like the method of claim 1.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of another example of the system ofclaim 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of another example of the system ofclaim 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modificationsin the described embodiments, and any further applications of theprinciples of the invention as described herein are contemplated aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates. One embodiment of the invention is shown in great detail,although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art thatsome features that are not relevant to the present invention may not beshown for the sake of clarity.

The reference numerals in the following description have been organizedto aid the reader in quickly identifying the drawings where variouscomponents are first shown. In particular, the drawing in which anelement first appears is typically indicated by the left-most digit(s)in the corresponding reference number. For example, an elementidentified by a “100” series reference numeral will first appear in FIG.1, an element identified by a “200” series reference numeral will firstappear in FIG. 2, and so on. With reference to the Specification,Abstract, and Claims sections herein, it should be noted that thesingular forms “a”, “an”, “the”, and the like include plural referentsunless expressly discussed otherwise. As an illustration, references to“a device” or “the device” include one or more of such devices andequivalents thereof.

Disclosed is a system configured to facilitate betting on multiplehistorical events concurrently. The system may include networkedprocessors or computers (e.g. servers, databases, and wageringterminals) to manage one or more common betting pools in a pari-mutuelwagering environment. The system may optionally include a totalizatorfor accepting and processing the wagers, making pool allocations,calculating the odds and prices of the wagers, calculating thecommission for the operator, and distributing winnings. Player prizesmay be rewarded based on how closely the player matches the outcome foreach participant in each event with the actual outcome for thatparticular event that occurred in the past.

For example, where players are concurrently betting on the finishingposition of horses in multiple horse races that have already occurred,the system can calculate the share of a pari-mutuel pool to award awinning player based on how many finishing positions from the horseraces the player correctly predicted. The system may optionally maintainseparate math models and separate pari-mutuel wagering pools fordifferent denominations and bet levels offered by each math model.

The disclosed system can also include wagering terminals configured tooperate games that may communicate with various servers, databases, anda totalizator to allow players to place pari-mutuel bets on historicalevents. As disclosed herein elsewhere in further detail, players use aterminal to rank the results for each participant in a past event. Thesepredicted rankings may be assisted by displaying to the user pre-eventrankings based on the probability of each participant finishing with thehighest ranking. These pre-event rankings may be based on calculationsof odds or probabilities that were available to bettors before the eventoccurred in the past (e.g. published odds based on actual pre-eventbetting, or on the opinion of experts). The user may alter theserankings according to their own beliefs about the outcome. The systemmay also provide pre-race handicapping information that was availablebefore the event actually took place in the past to aid the user inmaking their predictions. The system may also provide handicappinginformation corresponding to the circumstances of each race (for examplethe distance, surface, and jockeys) to aid the user in making a wageringdecision.

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a method of betting on multiple eventsthat have already occurred in the past. The user begins by accessing aterminal and optionally selecting a theme at 104 entering a wager at108. As discussed in further detail herein elsewhere, a terminal mayallow a user to enter a wager and place bets using the same physicalterminal, or these actions may be taken using separate terminals orother devices.

A wager may be placed by any suitable method such as by an electronicfunds transfer or by inserting physical currency into a bill acceptor.For example, the terminal may include a bill acceptor controlled by aprocessor and configured to accept an amount of currency the playerwishes to wager. The processor controlling the bill acceptor may be thesame processor controlling the overall terminal, or it may be a separateprocessor controlling a different system designed to also control theterminal or be a separate processor coupled to the bill acceptor by acomputer network. An input device may also be used along with the billacceptor, or in place of it, to accept a wager amount defining an amountof currency to wager. This input device may be controlled by theprocessor and mounted in the wagering terminal itself, or it may beincluded in another terminal separate from the wagering terminal.

The system accepts the wager entered by the user at 120, and transfersthe wager, or initiates a transfer of the wager, to a common prize poolstored in a prize pool database at 180. The terminal may, for example,use the processor in the terminal (or another processor) to initiate atransfer of the amount of currency to wager into the common prize poolmanaged by or stored in database 180.

At 128, the system may use the processor in the terminal (or anotherprocessor in the system) to query a database 176 to automaticallyretrieve data about multiple events that occurred in the past thatincluded multiple participants. The data about the multiple events maybe automatically retrieved by any suitable process. For example, thesystem may randomly select the data from database 176 by using theprocessor to initiate a random or pseudo-random selection queryselecting the events one-by-one with successive queries, or by a singlequery selecting all the events. Limits may be imposed as well on thenumber of events retrieved. In one example, data about three events isretrieved. Any suitable number of events may be retrieved and displayedto a user such as two events, four events, five or more events, or tenor more events as well. Three separate databases 180, 176, and 172 areshown in FIG. 1. However, these representations are illustrative only,as the system may store data in a single database containing all thedata of database 180, 176, and 172, or the system may store the data inmultiple additional databases.

The data about the events may include a final ranking for the respectivemultiple participants ranking the participants with respect to otherparticipants who competed in the same event. For example, where theevents are separate horse races, the participants are horses, and thefinal ranking for the respective participants in each event isdetermined by the finishing position in the field. Horses finishingfirst in the separate races are ranked higher than horses finishingsubsequent to the first place finishers. A similar ranking system may beused to rank finishers in other kinds of events such as dog races,automobile races, swimming, track and field events, or other eventswhere participants are ranked based on the order in which they cross afinish line (or put another way, in ascending order of the time it takesfor the participants to navigate at least a portion of a particularcourse or track one or more times).

Other ranking systems may be used, such as rankings based on subjectiveperformance metrics that are assigned by a judge, or panel of judgessuch as in gymnastics, figure skating, diving, and others. In anotherexample, participants may be ranked in ascending order depending on thenumber of particular actions that must be taken such as in golf or insome types of target shooting sports using bows or guns. In yet anotherexample, the participants may be teams with multiple individual teammembers performing various roles during the event such as baseballplayers or basketball players. In this example, the team maybe ranked indescending order according to points scored, games won in a season, ornumber of times the team has won or lost against a particular opponent.Other metrics may not involve wins and losses but overall teamperformance such as the number of home runs hit, the number of threepoint shots made, and the like. Any suitable statistic collected orgenerated memorializing the performance of participants in an event maybe used to rank the performance of participants in an event.

Database 176 may contain data about multiple events such as sportingevents or any other suitable event that occurred in the past that fitspecific criteria. For example, the data may include data about horseraces such as races with ten horse fields where no horses were scratchedfrom the race, where there were no dead heats, where there were nocoupled entries, where all horses finished the race, where all horseshad odds of winning (i.e. odds of having the highest final ranking) thatwere greater than 0 at the time of the race, or where the facilityhosting the race was located within the borders of the United States, orany combination thereof. Any other criteria may be imposed. Database 176may also include race replay information such as video clips, orgraphical representations of the results of various events. It may alsoinclude charts, graphs, statistical data, and the like explainingpredicted results and actual final results for the participants in theevents themselves.

The system may optionally calculate a “pre-event” or “initial” rankingat 132 using the processor. This pre-event ranking may be calculatedbased on the odds of the participants finishing in a particular orderfor their respective events. These odds may be obtained from database176 because the respective events have already occurred, and pre-eventodds may have been calculated in the past before the events occurred.For example, where the events are horse races, the system may include inthe data about the individual races rankings for the horses calculatedaccording to the odds of each particular horse winning the race they ranin. For example, the best (or lowest) odds equal the highest pre-eventranking and continuing in descending order with worst (or highest) oddshaving the lowest pre-event ranking.

These pre-event odds may be well-known and publicly available before theevent, and may therefore be saved in database 176 along with other dataabout the multiple events retrieved in the query at 128. Pre-event oddsgenerally seek to indicate the outcomes most likely to occur for theparticipants of an event and may involve the use of computers andodds-making software. In one example, the pre-event odds may be set byentities or individuals including employees of a venue hosting theevent, professional handicappers or subject matter experts paid todetermine the pre-event odds, or journalists familiar with the type ofevent, to name a few. In another example, pre-event odds may also be setin whole or in part based on actual bets placed on the outcome of anevent.

Pre-event rankings may be displayed to the user by the system at 136 andthe user may then be presented with the opportunity to accept therankings at 116 or reject them. The processor may control an inputdevice to accept predicted rankings for the participants of the eventsusing the processor. These predicted rankings provide users with a wayof predicting the final ranking for the multiple participants competingin their respective events. If the user does not accept the rankings,the user may change the predicted rankings at 112 by, for example, usingan input device to indicate or select a different ranking for at leastone participant in the multiple events displayed. When the user iscomfortable with the predicted rankings, the rankings may be submittedat 144. The submitted rankings may then be understood by the system tobe the user's wager as to the outcome of the past event.

Using the predicted rankings submitted by the user at 144, the systemmay calculate a final score or final wager result at 140 using theprocessor. Any suitable scoring calculation may be used. In one example,the final score is calculated based on the similarity (or thedifference) between the predicted rankings and the final rankings of theparticipants in their respective events. The score may in this examplebe higher where the predicted rankings more closely match the finalrankings for the participants in the event, and proportionally lower asthe predicted rankings differ more widely from the final rankings. Forexample, the final score may generate a wager result by comparing thepredicted ranking to the final ranking for each participant of eachevent using the processor. For example, the wager result may include ordefine an alphanumeric or other string of indicia where a firstidentifier (e.g. a “1” other suitable indicia) is included in the wagerresult for each participant in each event where the final ranking andpredicted ranking match, and a second identifier (e.g. a “0” or othersuitable indicia) is included in the wager result for each participantin each event where the final ranking and predicted ranking do notmatch. The system may optionally assign an overall probability ofoccurrence to the wager result by using the processor to query resultsdata in database 172 to determine the odds of the outcome represented bythe wager result. Wager results that are less likely may then receive ahigher final score, while wager results that are more likely may receivea lower final score.

A prize amount may be calculated using the processor at 156 using thefinal score (and/or the wager result if one was calculated) along withthe wager entered by the user. The prize amount may be calculated usingthe probability of occurrence assigned to the wager result and mayinclude querying prize data stored in a prize database 172. A prizeamount may then be higher for a wager result that is less likely tooccur, and lower for a wager result that is more likely to occur. Thesystem may also be configured with a lowest paying result that operatesas a predetermined threshold. Wager results that are below thispredetermined threshold may then receive a zero prize amount meaningthat the user loses some or all of the wager amount initially entered at108.

The results may be displayed to the user at 152, where the display maypresent to the user an option to see additional details for the finalresults of the events that occurred in the past. The system may thendisplay additional results details at 160 if the user requests to seethem at 148. The additional results data may include controlling thedisplay device to display a replay of at least a portion of one or moreof the past events. The computer generating this output may include theprocessor in the wagering terminal itself, or a processor that generatedthe graphical representation and sent it to the wagering terminal over acomputer network. Any suitable additional detail explaining the resultsfor each of the multiple events may be displayed at 160.

The system may then use the processor to initiate a transfer of theprize amount as a currency amount out of the common prize pool and intothe users account in the case where the prize amount is greater thanzero. This may occur automatically, or based on a prompt provided by theuser using an input device such as a keyboard or touchscreen. In anotherexample, the processor initiates a transfer of the prize amount when auser provides input requesting the system to cash out at 164 any prizemoney the user may have accumulated thus ending the process at 168. Ifthe user does not elect to cash out, the system may present an option tocontinue with another wager at 108. The user and the system may theninteract as disclosed to repeat the betting process any number of timeswhere the user has sufficient funds to wager repeatedly. Multiple usersmay engage in the actions discussed herein entering money into thecommon prize pools and withdrawing winnings where they are obtained. Inthis way, the system is configured to allow users to participate inpari-mutuel betting on multiple past events having multipleparticipants.

FIG. 2 illustrates at 200 one example of a user interface displayingpre-event or “initial” rankings and configured to accept input from auser specifying a set of predicted rankings by changing the initialrankings supplied by the system for multiple participants participatingin an event (see 136 and 112 in FIG. 1). As illustrated, theparticipants, events, and rankings may be organized in a table 208. Eachrow 232 in table 208 represents a final ranking 204 (in this caseranking 1 through 10) for each participant 216 in each event. The eventis indicated in table 208 as a column 220 which may include internalcolumns 212.

Internal columns 212 may be optionally included to show the odds of agiven participant 216 finishing with given final ranking 204. Forexample, in FIG. 2, the system indicates that the odds of Participant 9in Event 1 finishing with a final ranking of 1 (i.e., the highestfinishing position) are 2-1. Put another way, the system has determinedthat before the event took place in the past, the possibility thatParticipant 9 would achieve that highest rank at the end would merit areturn to the bettor of $2 in winnings for every $1 wagered. In apari-mutuel pool environment, this would mean that a player betting $2on Participant 9 in Event 1 would receive a payout of $6 ($4 in winningsplus the original stake of $2) if Participant 9 were to achieve thehighest finishing position. Similarly, in Event 2, a $2 bet onParticipant #4 at odds of 1-1 would return $4 ($2 in winnings plus theoriginal $2 bet) to the player if that participant were to finish in thehighest position. In Event 3, a $2 bet on Participant 1 at odds of 3-1would return $8 ($6 in winnings plus the original $2 bet) to the playerif that participant were to finish in the highest position. FIG. 2illustrates odds in columns 212 for only the highest rankingparticipants. However, this is only illustrative rather than restrictiveas odds may be shown for some, none, or all of the rankings in FIG. 2.

The user interface at 200 may be configured to display table 208 withoptional initial rankings calculated by the processor based on theprobability of each participant 216 obtaining the highest ranking amongall participants for a particular event 220. In another example, thesystem may provide a user interface like the one shown at 200 where theparticipants for each event are inserted in the table 208 withoutreference to any rankings that may have been known before the event tookplace in the past, or were later calculated by the system. For example,the system may simply enter participants in numerical order leaving itto the user to order them according to the users predicted ranking. Thusthe concept of “initial rankings” includes rankings known or calculatedin the past before the events took place, rankings computed by processorbased on input from a user or data about the participants and events, oran arbitrary ranking of participants provided as a convenience to theuser that have no bearing on the expected performance of theparticipants. In another example, user interface 200 may be initiallyshown to a user with no rankings (e.g. an empty table 208).

The user may change the initial rankings to match their own predictions.The system may be configured to allow the user to change the rankingsby, for example, selecting an individual participant 216 for aparticular event using an input device such as a mouse or touchscreen,and then selecting a new position that is different from the originalposition by, for example dragging the selected participant 216 from theoriginal position to the new position. The system may initiallyrepresent participant 5 participating in event 1 with an initial rankingof 4, and an initial ranking of 6 for participant 6. A user may believethat a different outcome is more likely, namely that participant 5 willfinish with a ranking of 6, and participant 6 will finish with a rankingof 4.

A user may predict a different outcome than the one initially offered bythe system by selecting the cell in table 208 for participant 5 (ranked4^(th)) and dragging the cell from its current position to a newposition corresponding to a final ranking of 6 as illustrated at 236 inFIG. 2. The system may then automatically swap rankings for participants5 and 6. The result is thus illustrated in FIG. 2 where the user haschanged the initial or pre-event rankings at 236 for participants 5 and6 rather than accepting the rankings initially presented.

In another example, an event 220 may be represented as a collection oftext input fields configured to accept text input from an input devicesuch as a keyboard and/or a mouse. In this example, a user changes theinitial rankings to create the predicted rankings by selectingindividual participants 216 for a particular event 220 with the mouse,and uses the keyboard to enter the participant 216 the user thinks willfinish with the ranking 232 corresponding to the row in table 208.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the system may initially represent participant5 participating in event 1 with an initial ranking of 4, and an initialranking of 6 for participant 6. The user may believe a different outcomeis more likely as discussed above. The user can predict this outcome byselecting the text field in the cell for participant 5 (ranked 4th) andentering into the text input field a new participant number, a 6 in thiscase. The system may then automatically swap participants 5 and 6, orrequire the user to enter a different participant number for the sixthplace ranking. In either case, the result is illustrated in FIG. 2 wherethe user has changed the initial or pre-event rankings for participants5 and 6 at 236 rather than accepting the system generated rankings.

As mentioned herein elsewhere, the wagering terminal may accept inputfrom a user by any suitable input device. For example, the wageringterminal may be configured as a “kiosk” or “game console” having a touchscreen mounted in the terminal along with a processor, memory, networkconnection, database access using the network, along with other inputand output devices and software configuring the processor to operate asdisclosed herein. A keyboard, or pointing device may be included toallow the user to enter data, or the touch screen may include anon-screen keyboard and may be configured to function as both an inputdevice accepting user selections and text and an output devicedisplaying a user interface such as the user interface shown at 200.

A user may wish to consider additional information about the eventsbefore deciding on and submitting predicted rankings. Such additionalinformation may be available by selecting one of the buttons 224 whicheach correspond to one of the events and may provide additionalstatistical information about the performance of each participant 216.This information may be retrieved from a database (e.g. databases 180,176, or 172) and may include statistics about a win percentage ofparticipants based on their past experience with various types of venueswhich in the case of a horse race, may include winning percentages for aparticular starting position, track, track surface, and distance.Statistics may also include a win probabilities based on characteristicsof people or entities associated with the participants such as trainers,coaches, jockeys, and the performance of the participant in similarevents. Regardless of how the rankings are changed by the user, the usermay continue to change the ranking for all participants in all eventsuntil the user is ready to proceed with submitting the bet andcalculating a wager result or score (see FIG. 1 at 140)

This may be done by activating a “start” button 228 on the userinterface. Before electing to start, the user may select an “auto”feature at 240. This indicates to the user that the player wishes toaccept the pre-event suggested rankings without intervening to changethem. With the auto feature activated, the system may hide or minimizeuser interface 200 allowing the player to bet repeatedly withoutstopping to review or change the pre-event rankings. An example of thisaspect of the process is discussed further below with respect to FIG. 6.

FIG. 3 illustrates 300 as one example of a user interface presenting thewager result calculated at 140 indicating how many of the user'spredicted rankings match with the actual final rankings. A scoring table320 (which may also be characterized as a “score card” or “result”) issimilar to table 208 and may be displayed (FIG. 1 at 152) by a displaydevice controlled by a processor and configured to generate the userinterface at 300. In this example of the user interface, rows 232represent individual separate rankings 204 as they relate to theparticipants 216. Columns 220 represent separate events as in table 208,the number of columns 220 corresponds to the number of events the useris making predictions on, and the number of rows 232 represents thenumber of participants participating in each event.

In one example, columns 220 corresponding to each event may beconfigured to indicate both the ranking the user selected and the finalranking based on actual results. For each possible ranking for eachseparate event, column 220 may indicate the user selection (e.g. someindicia identifying the participant such as a number) and a firstidentifier 316 (here an “!”) indicating that the final ranking andpredicted ranking match, and a second identifier 324 (here an “X”)indicating that the final ranking and predicted ranking do not match.

In the example shown at 300, the user predicted that participant number2 would finish the first event with a ranking of 3 (e.g. finished inthird place in the case of a horse race). In the actual event takingplace in the past, participant number 2 did finish with a ranking of 3and therefore the user's prediction matches the final outcome of theevent for participant number 2. A similar result was obtained forparticipants 1 and 5 in the third event. In this example, none of theuser's predicted results match the final actual results for the secondevent. Although an “X” and an “!” are illustrated as indicating when auser's prediction matches the final actual results, any suitable symbol,graphic, alphanumeric character, and the like may be used. The lack ofan indicator may also be used to indicate that the predicted and finalresults match, or that they do not match. In another example, the secondidentifier may be a blank space resulting in a display 300 where afigure or some other indicia is used as an identifier indicating whenthe user's results match the final results with the remainingcombinations of event, rank, and participant left blank in the display.

Detailed results may be displayed at 160 when a user selects one of thebuttons 308 on user interface 300. Selecting a “replay” button 308corresponding with an event in one of columns 220 may provide the userwith a video or graphical depiction of the event as it actually happenedin the past. In the illustrated example, clicking or selecting “replay”308 opens a video viewer 328 and displays a graphical or recorded resultshowing each participant (horses in this example) crossing the finishline.

Additional details may also be viewed by clicking or selecting a “chart”button 312. Selecting this option can open a display like the one shownin FIG. 4 at 400 having additional details about the event. One exampleof the kind of additional details that may be available is shown,although other information may be available in addition to a replay ofthe event is illustrated in FIG. 4 within the context of a horse race.The date and time of the race, as well as the location are shown at 404,the type of race and race distance at 408, the winning time at 412, andpurse at 416. At 420, the name of each horse is shown, and its assignednumerical identifier (e.g. 1-10). The jockey assigned to ride each horseis also listed at 424. Timing information appears at 428 where thearrangement of the horses in the starting gate is shown along with theposition of each horse at various points around the track, and at thefinish. Winning odds for each horse are also listed at 432. Otherinformation may be displayed as well. For other sports, where theparticipants are not horses, the information given at 400 may be verydifferent. When the user has finished studying the chart at 400, thechart can be closed by selecting or clicking the “close” icon 436.

Below is one example of how the scoring algorithm calculates a wagerresult or final score at 140. As discussed above with respect to FIGS. 2and 3, a user predicts the outcome for the participants of multiplehistorical events individually. Each of the single historical events hasa present resulting scorecard shown in FIG. 3 with ten fields for eachevent, each with two potential states: correctly predicted orincorrectly predicted. A “hit” at 316 indicates a correct prediction,and a miss at 324 indicates an incorrect prediction. An “event pattern”may be created that includes the ordered collection of hits and misses,an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 5 at 504. The event pattern504 matches the results shown in FIG. 3 where the user only correctlypredicted the finishing position for three of the participants. Hits 316are marked with a “1”, while misses 324 are marked with a “0” as shown.

Each potential outcome of a wager that includes the user's predictionscan be generated by a processor as a binary number with a number ofdigits equal to the number of events in the event pattern multiplied bythe number of participants in each event. A processor may be configuredto assemble a wager result 508 using an algorithm such as Algorithm 1illustrated in pseudo code below:

ALGORITHM 1   for each ranking  for each event   append hit or missindicator to   an alphanumeric string  done done

The results of this example of the procedure appear in FIG. 5, where thewager result 508 is a 30 digit binary number. In the illustratedexample, the left-most digit is 1 if the player correctly predicted thehighest ranked participant in the first event, and a 0 if not. Thesecond to left-most digit represents whether the user correctlypredicted the highest ranked participant of the second event, and so on.For the result 508, the most significant bit is the upper left positionin the event pattern (corresponding to the highest ranked participant ofthe first event), and the least significant bit is the lower right spot(corresponding to the lowest ranked participant of the last event). Thewager result 508 may be converted from a base 2 binary representation toa base 10 integer form shown at 512 as 142606400. Either or both ofthese wager results may be used as disclosed to calculate a prizeamount. These wager results (which may also be characterized as “patternIDs”) can range from 0 (where no rankings were predicted correctly inany of the events), to 1,073,741,823 (inclusive) if the user correctlypredicts the rankings (pattern) for all 10 participants in all threeevents.

In this example, there are 2{circumflex over ( )}10 (1,024) possibleevent patterns like pattern 504 for each event. Some of these patternsthat are mathematically possible may be impossible for various reasons.For example, in horse racing, having nine out of the ten horsescorrectly placed means 9 hits for a 10 position race, and therefore the10th position must be a hit. In this case, many of the 1024 possiblepatterns are logically impossible.

For a database (such as database 172, 176, or 180) containinginformation about, for example, 104,802 events matching the requiredcriteria, some results occur more frequently than others, such as havingnone of the suggested answers correct (19,423 times out of 104,802) orall of them correct (1 out of 104,802). If three events are considered,a final scorecard or event pattern will have patterns for each of thethree races. Therefore, considering the case where there are 862possible patterns for each event, an event pattern 504 with 862possibilities per event yields an event pattern with (640,503,928)patterns with a non-zero probability of occurrence (assuming usersalways accept the initial rankings recommended by the system). For eachof these patterns the probability of it occurring can be calculated bymultiplying the probabilities of the event patterns for each event.Wager results can be assigned a probability based on their odds asrepresented in the actual data about the events assuming the useraccepts the initial rankings calculated by the system (calculated at 132in FIG. 1). Based on this assumption, approximately half of theapproximately 1.073 trillion wager results have a zero probability.These patterns can only be achieved if a player modifies the recommendedfinishing order.

These probabilities can be used by the system in calculating ordetermining prizes (156 in FIG. 1). In one example, ranges of possibleoutcomes represented using the wager results (like the number 142606400mentioned in the example above) as a key or identifier for a databasequery where wager results are assigned to prizes. This assignment mayinclude other criteria allowing prizes for the same wager result to bedifferent for different math models, denominations, bet levels, and takeout percentages. Manufacturers may implement these various criteria asrecords in a database, or entries in a file such as a Math DefinitionFile (MDF) provided for each math model.

In one example, for wager results (i.e. pattern IDs) 0 to 300,000,000,the processor may be programmed to assign a prize value of zero for aparticular math model if the sum of the probabilities of those resultsequals the probability defined in the MDF for prize 0. The processor maybe programmed to assign a prize value of 2 for results in the range of300,000,001 to 400,500,000 if the sum of the probabilities matches theprize frequencies defined in the MDF for prize 2, and so forth.

To assign prize ranges to an MDF file, the most valuable prize may bemapped first beginning with the highest possible pattern ID(1,073,741,823) and adding pattern ID probabilities while counting downby 1 until the probability of the top prize is exceeded. At this pointthe pattern ID is recorded as the lower bound for the top prize and themaximum pattern ID is recorded as the upper bound for the top prize.This process is repeated while stepping down through the pattern IDsuntil every prize in the MDF is accounted for including the 0 prizereceiving all remaining pattern IDs down to 0.

For each math model, bet level, and payout percentage combination, atable may be generated by a processor (e.g. in computer separate fromthe wagering terminal) using this method with three columns: Low Index,High Index, and Prize Index. In this example, the Prize Index mayidentify the prize to be awarded and the Low Index (inclusive) and HighIndex (inclusive) may represent the upper and lower ends of the patternID range assigned to the Prize Index. As noted, these pattern ID tablesmay be generated “offline” prior to deployment of each theme, bet level,and payout percentage combination based on the specific mathematicalprobabilities specified in the database (such as database 172 in FIG.1). Probabilities and pattern ID ranges may require recalculation if theevent database is replaced. Using this kind of algorithm, the processormay generate prize tables with the probability of a pattern ID in aparticular range that is as close as possible to the theme designer'sdesired probability for a given prize, and it assumes that the playersaccept the initial rankings recommended at the outset. The actual prizespaid out may deviate from the design if players do not play optimally.

With the database preloaded with the proper prizes for all possiblecombinations of math model, bet level, and payout percentage, the systemcan quickly calculate the wager results and query the database to lookup the prize to award based on the user's resulting pattern IDregardless of whether the player has modified the initial rankings ornot. Once the prize amount 516 is calculated at 156, the prize amountcan be displayed on the display device for the wagering terminal.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, betting on multiple past events may providean entertaining theme without spinning reels or any other casino stylegaming mechanism. A display device displaying the elements illustratedin FIGS. 2-4 can be used to order the outcome of multiple events. Thetheme may include accompanying depictions and animated highlights ofmatching predictions as the participants complete the event. Similar tobingo, the system may display the matches with graphics, symbols, andother indicia particular to the type of event.

Wagering on multiple past events as discussed herein may also beintegrated into any suitable flow or sequence of actions and may beincluded with other actions taken by a user in the context of a largeroverall theme. As discussed previously, such a theme may optionally beselected at 104 (see FIG. 1) early in the wagering process. One exampleof a theme generated by the processor in an electronic wagering deviceis illustrated in FIG. 6 at 600. In this example, the terminal isconfigured to allow users to wager on multiple past events by includingother graphics, colors, symbols, and various indicia to enhance theoverall user experience.

For example, in FIG. 6, the user interface includes a thematic display604 and a minimized or miniaturized event selection interface 612 whichcan expand across the user interface to include a user interface likeuser interface 200. Such a user interface may be configured to acceptinput from the user to change predictions as discussed herein elsewhere.User interface 612 may also be configured like user interface 300 wherethe processor is configured to generate a suitable arrangement ofindicia appearing on user interface 612 for indicating the results ofthe user's predictions. A minimized or miniature score table 620 mayalso be included interface 612 and configured to display a graphicalexpression of similarities between the user's predictions, and theactual results of the past events. This graphical expression of theresults may appear like the event pattern 504 in FIG. 5 where hits 316may be represented as filled in boxes, while misses 324 may berepresented as empty boxes. The prize amount calculated based on theselected theme, wager result, bet level, and other factors discussedabove is shown at 516. As shown, the user has selected the “auto”feature 622 which allows the user to bet based on the pre-event rankingsprovided by the system automatically.

In this example display at 600, the theme includes an array of symbols640 arranged in a grid or table with a number of columns 632 (here shownas five columns), where each column includes a number of rows 636 ofsymbols 640 (here shown as three rows). The type, arrangement, oranimation of symbols 640 may indicate a winning or losing bet. Forexample, the selected theme may indicate a winning bet by placingsymbols 640 in certain preprogrammed alignments indicating a winning orlosing bet. Any suitable alignment, or number of suitable alignments ofsymbols 640 in columns 632 and rows 636, may be configured to appearbased on the results of the user's predictions as discussed elsewhere.Such alignments may be preprogrammed to correspond to the various wagerresults (such as wager results 140 and 508). For example, when a userhas placed a winning bet, the processor may be configured to displayadditional lines between symbols 640, to display flashing, blinking, orotherwise animated symbols 640, and/or to optionally generate audiblemusic or other sounds. Theme 600 may include any suitable combination ofgraphical, audible, or other elements indicating a winning or losingwager. Audible features, such as the volume or type of sounds generatedby the electronic wagering terminal may be controlled by an audioelement 652.

Control and informational elements, data entry fields, and buttons maybe included in user interface 600 and may be configured to accept inputfrom the user. Available cash to wager may be shown at 652, and anywinnings received as a result of the predictions on past events made bythe user may appear at 698. A “help” panel may be included at 660explaining aspects such as how to select rankings for the multipleparticipants of past events, the process of making wagers, and howwinning and losing bets are indicated, to name a few. A pay tableelement 648 may be included providing any suitable explanations to theuser as to how a particular wager will pay out, and may include anexplanation of any corresponding arrangements of symbols 640 that may beshown. Control elements may also be included in interface 600 such asfields for entering, selecting, or simply displaying the number ofdollars per “credit” at 644. A user may bet according to the number ofwinning configurations of symbols configured for a given theme anddisplayed by the processor. A bet per winning configuration (here shownas a number of credits) may be optionally entered or selected at 680 andmay be confirmed with a button 676. The wager may be placed by selectingthe “spin” button 694.

As noted above, display 600 includes various symbols 640, and otherfeatures that may be displayed by the processor according to whether theuser has made a winning prediction on the results of the past events. Asdiscussed herein elsewhere, the final scorecard or event pattern is usedto calculate the actual payout, for example, by calculating a pattern IDand using the pattern ID to determine the prize amount based on the mathmodel, bet level, pay percentages, and other aspects discussed above.Based on the user's predictions, and the final results, the processormay execute logic programmed in a prize selection module to select aconfiguration of symbols 640 and any other corresponding user interfaceelements to indicate a winning wager results.

As noted above with respect to FIG. 2, if the user selects the “auto”feature, indicated at 622, the user can place bets repeatedly relying onthe pre-event rankings automatically calculated using the processorwithout expanding event selection interface 612 to display all theoptions illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this example, the user canrepeatedly place bets, and view the results without making changes tothe predicted rankings. A user can repeatedly make bets using thecontrol elements featured in the user interface at 600 to operate thesystem in a familiar way except that as disclosed herein, the prizeamounts paid out to bettors are not based on randomly appearingconfigurations of symbols 640 or a random number generator, but on thedifference between the predicted and actual results of multiple pastevents. This is in contrast to many casino wagering terminals where abettor is betting on the occurrence of various winning configurations ofrandomly positioned symbols 640.

FIG. 7. illustrates at 700 one example of the system components that maybe included in a wagering terminal to operate the disclosed gamingsystem. Wagering terminal 704 optionally includes various hardwarecomponents 712 that may include a processor 728, memory 744, networkinterface 740 which may be used to access database(s) such as eventdatabase 724, prize database 748, and display control and rules database756 which may contain data about the sequence of play, screens todisplay at various points in the process, common prize pools, andavailable themes and associated rules to load and execute usingprocessor 728. In on example, the common prize pool may be maintained indatabase 756 which may be part of a totalizator device, or part of asystem configured to operate as a totalizator. Wagering terminal 704 mayinclude one or more output devices 736, one or more input devices 730,and also an optional bill acceptor 732.

The terminal 704 may also include various software and data components708 that may be used by the processor as disclosed herein. Software 708may include a scoring module 716 configured to calculate a final scorebased on the difference between the user selected rankings for theparticipants of the multiple events and final rankings of theparticipants ranked according to the actual results of the events thatoccurred in the past.

A pre-event ranking module 768 may be included and configured tocalculate an initial ranking for each participant calculated using theodds of each respective participant completing the event with thehighest final ranking as determined in the past before the event tookplace. The data about the multiple events may be retrieved from adatabase such as event database 724 which may be similar to database 176and may include data about the multiple events, and about theparticipants competing in those events. Like database 176, database 724may include race replay information such as video clips, or graphicalrepresentations of the results of various events. It may also includecharts, graphs, statistical data, and the like explaining predictedresults and actual final results for various participants participatingin past events.

A user interface module 764 may be included and configured to control adisplay device or other suitable output device 736 to display theinitial rankings using the processor. The user interface module may alsobe configured to accept user input defining user selected rankings,wherein the user selected rankings are defined by changing the initialrankings for at least one participant for at least one of the selectedevents using an input device 730.

The terminal software 708 may include an event selection engine 720configured to use the processor 728 to retrieve event data aboutmultiple selected events that occurred in the past from the database.This event data may include data about multiple participantsparticipating in the selected events retrieved from event database 724.

Software 708 may include a scoring module 716 configured to calculate afinal score as disclosed herein based on the difference between the userselected rankings for the participants and final rankings of theparticipants using the processor. The final rankings may be rankedaccording to the actual results of the event that occurred in the past.

A prize selection module may also be included and configured tocalculate the prize amount using the processor. The prize amount may bea currency amount based on the final score and the amount to be wageredby the user.

In the terminal at 700, a display and control module 760 may be includedand configured to use the processor to initiate a transfer of an amountto be wagered into a common prize pool, and to use the processor toinitiate a transfer of a prize amount out of the common prize pool whenthe prize amount is greater than zero.

Databases 724, 748, and 756 are described herein separately asmaintaining different data. Database 724, 748, and 756 may be configuredto store the separate data in a single “database” as defined herein witha single organized collection of information maintaining the datadiscussed. Databases 724, 748, and 756 may be configured as individualcollections of data maintained by separate Database Management Systems(DBMS), or as a single collection of data separated logically andmaintained by a single DBMS. Whether separate databases, or a singledatabase with various types of data stored therein, databases 724, 748,and 756 (and any other databases used by terminal 704) may be maintainedwithin a single physical server or within multiple physical serverscommunicating via a computer network. Any or all of these severs couldbe included as part of terminal 704 or separate from it.

The databases used by terminal 704 may also be physically stored on asingle storage media such as a Hard Disc Drive (HDD) mounted in terminal704, or on any combination of separate individual storage media interminal 704. In another example, the media may be stored on otherservers in any suitable configuration accessible by terminal 704.

Terminal 802 is one example of a terminal that communicates withdatabase servers that may not be located in the terminal, but may beavailable at remote locations from terminal 802 via a computer network836, or multiple computer networks 836 as illustrated. The computernetwork(s) 836 may communicate via network interface 740 to passinformation to the processor 728 and other hardware 712, as well ascontrol and data components 708.

For example, an account management terminal 832 may be separate fromterminal 802 and may be configured to communicate with terminal 802 vianetwork 836. The account manager terminal 832 may include a billacceptor 840 configured to scan and accept currency. Account managementterminal 832 may also include devices for creating or accepting,vouchers, credit cards, and the like, allowing the customer to add moneyto their account and prepare to make bets. Account management terminal832 may also include a processor, memory, input devices, output devices,and a network interface as illustrated with wagering terminal 802.Various software or other control modules may also be included to managethe collection and payment of wagers and prizes to the user's account.These amounts added and removed from a user's account, and thetransactions associated with them, may be maintained in an accountmanagement database 828 accessible via an account management server 844.

In another example, a prize selection server 804 may access a prizedatabase 808 like prize database 172 and 748. Terminal 802 may accessprize selection server 804 using a network such as network 836 vianetwork interface 740. Prize selection server 804 may be configured tomap winning scores calculated by prize selection module 752 to determineprize amounts with respect to wager results, pattern IDs, and priceranges as discussed above with respect to FIG. 5. Prize selection module752 may access prize selection server 804 and prize database 808 usingany suitable procedure to arrive at prize payouts where the user hassuccessfully matched predicted results with actual results of pastevents.

Wagering terminal 802 may also include display control module 768 whichmay be configured to access central determinant/totalizator server 812using network 836 via network interface 740. Server 812 may beconfigured to access the database 816 which may be similar to database756, or any of databases 180, 176, or 172 in FIG. 1 and may include mathmodels, themes, and other control or rule related data. Similarly, eventselection engine 720 may access a historical event server 820 usingnetwork 836 and network interface 740. Display control and rules module760 may access server 812 as needed to display output and determine whatinput to accept according to math model definitions retrieved fromdatabase 816. In another example, display server 812 may also beconfigured to provide software upgrades to display control and rulesmodule 760. It may also be configured to upload graphics, templates,screen positioning information, display control logic, and the like byany suitable means such as a firmware upgrade, or other softwareupgrade.

Historical event server 820 may be configured to access a historicalevents database 824 which may be like events database 724 or database176. Historical events database 824 may include race replay informationsuch as data about participants and events, including odds, associatedparties to members, and the like and video clips, or graphicalrepresentations of the results of various events. It may also includecharts, graphs, statistical data, and the like explaining predictedresults and actual final results for the participants in the eventsthemselves.

As illustrated at 800, wager terminal 802 may include within theterminal itself a limited capacity for storage of the various processcontrol, prize, account management, and event data storage components.In this configuration, the wager terminal may provide the functionalitydiscussed herein while relying on a network like network 836 to accessthemes, math models, event information, prize selection information, andaccount management data. This configuration facilitates a distributedprocessing arrangement where wager terminals may be implemented insoftware operating on a personal computing device coupled to network836. Network 836 may be a wireless or wired network accessible within acertain location or venue where the opportunity to participate inwagering on past events is restricted to a specific geographical area bylimiting the extent of the range of accessibility to network 836.Electronic wagering devices (wagering terminals) inside the range ofnetwork 836 may be used to participate in the wagering, while wageringdevices outside the range of network 836 may not be able to participateuntil the wagering terminals move within the range of network 836.Mobile wagering terminals include personal computing devices programmedor otherwise configured to perform the wagering procedures disclosedherein.

One example of a mobile wagering terminal limited by the range ofnetwork 836 is a personal computing device such as a smart phone withprocessor, memory, input/output devices, display device, etc. configuredto execute a wagering application. The application may be programmed toperform some or all of the disclosed wagering processes by remotelyaccessing databases like 808, 816, 824, and/or 828 via servers 804, 812,820, and/or 844 respectively. When the mobile device is inside apredetermined area of network coverage for network 836, wagering mayproceed as discussed herein. When the user carries the device outsidethe coverage of network 836, access to the data may be lost and thewagering process suspended until the user reenters the coverage area ofnetwork 836. This coverage area may be implemented by wired or wirelessaccess points providing a physical and/or electronic connection tonetwork 836.

In another example, multiple wager terminals 802 may be configured tooperate on a general-purpose computer placed in a particular venue orfacility for use by the general public. In this example, rules, prizeinformation, scoring, and the like may be available through network 836making the wager terminals 802 in this configuration easier to maintain,and upgrade. In another example, a wager terminal may be a hybrid ofterminal 802, and terminal 704 where the terminal may have access tovarious remote databases and servers for managing the wagering processas discussed above with terminal 802, but may cash or store some or allof the data and control logic in an internal database as well. Thisconfiguration may thus provide higher perceived performance for the userbecause of reduced time lag that may be caused by repeated networkaccess.

Illustrated at 900 in FIG. 9 is another example of the system disclosedherein similar to the system discussed above at 800 illustrating aspectsof how the various components disclosed herein may be integrated into agaming venue. Account management terminal 832 may access an accountmanagement server 844 which includes an account management database 828.This access may be facilitated by a network 836 as discussed above. Thewager terminal 904 that may be configured like terminal 804 may includea Central Determinate Translator (CDT) module 916 as illustrated. Wagerterminal 904 may be positioned along with account management terminal832 on the gaming floor 920 of a gaming venue. Gaming floor 920 may bethe area accessible to users of the gaming system described herein.Wagering terminal 904 may be an immobile configured to remain stationaryas the user interacts with it. Wagering terminal 904 may also be apersonal computing device.

One or more wagering terminals 904 may communicate via network 836 toserver 812 which may include event database 816 and a CentralDeterminate/Translator System (CD/TS) 932. Server 812 may also include amanagement terminal 912 allowing system managers to maintain rules,information about past events, math model definitions, and any otherlogic or data used by the system as discussed herein elsewhere. Server812, CD/TS 932, and management terminal 912 may be positioned in a “backof house” area 924 of a venue available to administrative or otheremployees of the venue. This area may also include account managementserver 844 account management database 828. Server 844 and 812 may bemaintained in a separate location within a venue or in a separatelocation remote from the venue accessible to terminals 904 and 832 vianetwork 836.

Terminal 904 may include a CDT module 916 communicating with CD/TSservers 932 and 908. The CDTS servers and module 916 may be configuredto provide gaming infrastructure that both simplifies operations for thegaming facility and simplifies development for gaming equipmentmanufacturers. In some cases, a software emulator of the CDT hardwaremay be incorporated in terminal 904, or other components. The CDTfunctionality may be included with the CDTS and deployed in a variety ofserver and software configurations to meet various jurisdictionalrequirements. These configurations can include Class II Bingo, VirtualScratch Tickets, Historical Racing, Racing Based Gaming and variantsthat utilize previously run races to generate outcomes, and/or otherforms of central determinate gaming.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, wagering terminals may include a cabinet,computer, display, input/output devices, and other peripherals. Thecomputer may be programmed with software configured to carry out themethods and processes disclosed herein, and may optionally be programmedto perform other processes as well. Unlike traditional wageringterminals that include an internal random prize generator, a terminal904 may include a central determinate gaming logic or equipmentprogrammed to receive prize outcomes from an external device or system.The CDT aware servers 812 and 844, and others, can cooperate to manageaccount balances, communicates with the system, display user interfacescreens or other information, and display outcomes calculated by thesystem in an entertaining way. This may be done using a variety of addon components available to system operators to enhance manageability andguest experience. These include accounting systems and player rewardssystems. These systems may connect to wagering terminals such asterminal 904 directly or through a server such as server 812 using anetwork like network 836 depending on the specific capabilities of thesystems and devices provided by various vendors.

The CD/TS 908 and/or 912 may provide access to additional math modelsincreasing the number and quality of themes available to smaller venuesby accessing a central server like server 908, either directly or viaanother server on-site such as server 812. Modifications to servers 844,812, and 908 necessary to add additional wagering terminals 904 arereduced increasing opportunities for different types of terminals fromvarious manufacturers. Such terminals may include terminals implementedin software and operated on a personal computing device.

The disclosed system may use CDT architecture to provide outcomes towagering terminals based on a pari-mutuel wagering system usinghistorical events such as horse races, dog races, auto races, and anyother suitable event. As discussed herein, users may place wagersattempting to predict the finishing order of events assisted by thedisplay of pre-event odds or other handicapping information. Users mayenjoy a variety of diverse, entertaining prize displays (such as thedisplay at 600) based on successfully predicting event outcomes.

Using the CDTS configuration illustrated at 900 allows a generic outcomedelivery protocol (the CDT Protocol) allowing diverse wagering terminalsto request outcomes from a central determinant system in a universalformat. Similarly, a CDT may be installed in each wagering terminal as aphysical piece of hardware, a software module, or as a game integrateddisplay capable of displaying jurisdiction specific information andplayer interface elements. A combination of the standardized protocoland/or display components may separate the wagering terminal itself fromthe outcome generation system. Therefore, the outcome generation systemcan change without corresponding changes on the wagering terminal. TheCD/TS can provide central determinant outcomes and theinterfaces/displays related to them to the wagering terminal. Thewagering terminal can provide an entertaining display of the result andother functions including accounting, player tracking, and generalregulatory compliance. Operators can choose a terminal 904 manufacturedfrom a wide array of sources with different functions. Terminalsintegrated with access to a CD/TS server may also coexist on a floorwith non-CD/TS terminals and devices.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit ofthe inventions defined by following claims are desired to be protected.All publications, patents, and patent applications cited in thisspecification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individualpublication, patent, or patent application were specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth inits entirety herein.

Glossary of Definitions and Alternatives

The language used in the claims and specification is to only have itsplain and ordinary meaning, except as explicitly defined below. Thewords in these definitions are to only have their plain and ordinarymeaning. Such plain and ordinary meaning is inclusive of all consistentdictionary definitions from the most recently published Webster's andRandom House dictionaries. As used in the specification and claims, thefollowing definitions apply to the following terms or common variationsthereof (e.g., singular/plural forms, past/present tenses, etc.):

“Bill acceptor”, “currency detector”, or “currency validator” generallyrefers to any device configured to automatically scan paper or metalcurrency to determine the denominations scanned as well as whether thecurrency is genuine or counterfeit. Such devices are generallyconfigured and programmed to perform various tests, to determine if thenominations of the currency and whether or not it is counterfeit. Inoperation, if the bill or coin is considered genuine, it is accepted andretained within the machine and its amount calculated. If the bill orcoin deemed counterfeit or otherwise rejected by the machine, it isgenerally returned to the customer by dropping the currency into areceptacle for retrieval, or by injecting the currency from a slot oropening within which it was initially placed for examination. Varioustechniques may be employed for sensing whether currency is counterfeitsuch as magnetic or optical sensing for various physical or otherproperties of the currency such as weight, size, response to ultravioletlight, and/or the shape or position of particular patterns printed orimprinted in the currency.

“Computer” generally refers to any computing device configured tocompute a result from any number of input values or variables. Acomputer may include a processor for performing calculations to processinput or output. A computer may include a memory for storing values tobe processed by the processor, or for storing the results of previousprocessing.

A computer may also be configured to accept input and output from a widearray of input and output devices for receiving or sending values. Suchdevices include other computers, keyboards, mice, visual displays,printers, industrial equipment, and systems or machinery of all typesand sizes. For example, a computer can control a network interface toperform various network communications upon request. The networkinterface may be part of the computer, or characterized as separate andremote from the computer.

A computer may be a single, physical, computing device such as a desktopcomputer, a laptop computer, or may be composed of multiple devices ofthe same type such as a group of servers operating as one device in anetworked cluster, or a heterogeneous combination of different computingdevices operating as one computer and linked together by a communicationnetwork. The communication network connected to the computer may also beconnected to a wider network such as the internet. Thus computer mayinclude one or more physical processors or other computing devices orcircuitry, and may also include any suitable type of memory.

A computer may also be a virtual computing platform having an unknown orfluctuating number of physical processors and memories or memorydevices. A computer may thus be physically located in one geographicallocation or physically spread across several widely scattered locationswith multiple processors linked together by a communication network tooperate as a single computer.

The concept of “computer” and “processor” within a computer or computingdevice also encompasses any such processor or computing device servingto make calculations or comparisons as part of disclosed system.Processing operations related to threshold comparisons, rulescomparisons, calculations, and the like occurring in a computer mayoccur, for example, on separate servers, the same server with separateprocessors, or on a virtual computing environment having an unknownnumber of physical processors as described above.

A computer may be optionally coupled to one or more visual displaysand/or may include an integrated visual display. Likewise, displays maybe of the same type, or a heterogeneous combination of different visualdevices. A computer may also include one or more operator input devicessuch as a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, laser or infrared pointingdevice, or gyroscopic pointing device to name just a few representativeexamples. Also, besides a display, one or more other output devices maybe included such as a printer, plotter, industrial manufacturingmachine, 3D printer, and the like. As such, various display, input andoutput device arrangements are possible.

Multiple computers or computing devices may be configured to communicatewith one another or with other devices over wired or wirelesscommunication links to form a network. Network communications may passthrough various computers operating as network appliances such asswitches, routers, firewalls or other network devices or interfacesbefore passing over other larger computer networks such as the internet.Communications can also be passed over the network as wireless datatransmissions carried over electromagnetic waves through transmissionlines or free space. Such communications include using WiFi or otherWireless Local Area Network (WLAN) or a cellular transmitter/receiver totransfer data. Such signals conform to any of a number of wireless ormobile telecommunications technology standards such as 802.11a/b/g/n,3G, 4G, and the like.

“Data” generally refers to one or more values of qualitative orquantitative variables that are usually the result of measurements. Datamay be considered “atomic” as being finite individual units of specificinformation. Data can also be thought of as a value or set of valuesthat includes a frame of reference indicating some meaning associatedwith the values. For example, the number “2” alone is a symbol thatabsent some context is meaningless. The number “2” may be considered“data” when it is understood to indicate the finishing position of aparticular horse in a horse race.

Data may be organized and represented in a structured format. Examplesinclude a tabular representation using rows and columns, a treerepresentation with a set of nodes considered to have a parent-childrenrelationship, or a graph representation as a set of connected nodes toname a few.

The term “data” can refer to unprocessed data or “raw data” such as acollection of numbers, characters, or other symbols representingindividual facts or opinions. Data may be collected by sensors incontrolled or uncontrolled environments, or generated by observation,recording, or by processing of other data. The word “data” may be usedin a plural or singular form. The older plural form “datum” may be usedas well.

“Database” or “data store” generally refers to an organized collectionof data. The data is typically organized to model aspects of the realworld in a way that supports processes obtaining information about theworld from the data. Access to the data is generally provided by a“Database Management System” (DBMS) consisting of an individual computersoftware program or organized set of software programs that allow userto interact with one or more databases providing access to data storedin the database (although user access restrictions may be put in placeto limit access to some portion of the data). The DBMS provides variousfunctions that allow entry, storage and retrieval of large quantities ofinformation as well as ways to manage how that information is organized.A database is not generally portable across different DBMSs, butdifferent DBMSs can interoperate by using standardized protocols andlanguages such as Structured Query Language (SQL), Open DatabaseConnectivity (ODBC), Java Database Connectivity (JDBC), or ExtensibleMarkup Language (XML) to allow a single application to work with morethan one DBMS.

Databases and their corresponding database management systems are oftenclassified according to a particular database model they support.Examples include a DBMS that relies on the “relational model” forstoring data, usually referred to as Relational Database ManagementSystems (RDBMS). Such systems commonly use some variation of SQL toperform functions which include querying, formatting, administering, andupdating an RDBMS. Other examples of database models include the“object” model, the “object-relational” model, the “file”, “indexedfile” or “flat-file” models, the “hierarchical” model, the “network”model, the “document” model, the “XML” model using some variation ofXML, the “entity-attribute-value” model, and others.

Examples of commercially available database management systems includePostgreSQL provided by the PostgreSQL Global Development Group;Microsoft SQL Server provided by the Microsoft Corporation of Redmond,Wash., USA; MySQL and various versions of the Oracle DBMS, oftenreferred to as simply “Oracle” both separately offered by the OracleCorporation of Redwood City, Calif., USA; the DBMS generally referred toas “SAP” provided by SAP SE of Walldorf, Germany; and the DB2 DBMSprovided by the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) ofArmonk, N.Y., USA.

The database and the DBMS software may also be referred to collectivelyas a “database”. Similarly, the term “database” may also collectivelyrefer to the database, the corresponding DBMS software, and a physicalcomputer or collection of computers. Thus the term “database” may referto the data, software for managing the data, and/or a physical computerthat includes some or all of the data and/or the software for managingthe data.

“Coupled entry” generally refers to two or more horses owned or trainedby the same person or entity that are in the starting field for the samehorse race and are grouped together for wagering purposes.

“Dead heat” generally refers to a tie between final rankings for two ormore participants in an event such as a sporting event. For example, a“dead heat” in horse racing is where two or more horses tie for a “win”or “placing” (first or second place).

“Display device” generally refers to any device capable of beingcontrolled by an electronic circuit or processor to display informationin a visual or tactile. A display device may be configured as an inputdevice taking input from a user or other system (e.g. a touch sensitivecomputer screen), or as an output device generating visual or tactileinformation, or the display device may configured to operate as both aninput or output device at the same time, or at different times.

The output may be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and/or mechanicaldisplays and includes, but is not limited to, the following displaytechnologies: Cathode ray tube display (CRT), Light-emitting diodedisplay (LED), Electroluminescent display (ELD), Electronic paper,Electrophoretic Ink (E-ink), Plasma display panel (PDP), Liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), High-Performance Addressing display (HPA), Thin-filmtransistor display (TFT), Organic light-emitting diode display (OLED),Surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED), Laser TV, Carbonnanotubes, Quantum dot display, Interferometric modulator display(IMOD), Swept-volume display, Varifocal mirror display, Emissive volumedisplay, Laser display, Holographic display, Light field displays,Volumetric display, Ticker tape, Split-flap display, Flip-disc display(or flip-dot display), Rollsign, mechanical gauges with moving needlesand accompanying indicia, Tactile electronic displays (aka refreshableBraille display), Optacon displays, or any devices that either alone orin combination are configured to provide visual feedback on the statusof a system, such as the “check engine” light, a “low altitude” warninglight, an array of red, yellow, and green indicators configured toindicate a temperature range.

“Electronic funds transfer” generally refers to the electronic exchangeor transfer of money from one account to another, either within a singlefinancial institution or across multiple institutions, throughcomputer-based systems. Examples include cardholder-initiatedtransactions, using a payment card such as a credit or debit card;direct deposit payment initiated by the payer; direct debit payments,sometimes called electronic checks, for which a business debits theconsumer's bank accounts for payment for goods or services; wiretransfer via an international banking network such as the Society forWorldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT); electronic billpayment in online banking, which may be delivered by EFT or paper check;transactions involving stored value of electronic money, possibly in aprivate currency.

“Event” generally refers to an event where one or more participantsengages in any sort of activity to determine a final ranking ofparticipants relative to other participants engaging in the same event.The final ranking or outcome is generally calculated when the event iscompleted, although partial or interim rankings may be calculated as theevent is occurring, particularly for longer events. Examples of “events”include various types of sporting events with individual participantscompeting directly against one another (e.g. a horse race, automobilerace, tennis match, chess match, bridge match, and the like). Otherevents include sports events with multiple participants competing ingroups as a team such as in baseball, cricket, soccer, American-stylefootball, basketball, or relay races such as a 400 m relay performed inthe context of a track-and-field or swimming competition.

Events commonly include competitive mental or physical activity whichaim to use, maintain, or improve the competitors' physical or mentalability and skills while providing entertainment to participants and/orspectators. Many sports exist which include events occurring a differenttimes and include events requiring only two participants to events withhundreds of simultaneous participants, either in teams or competing asindividuals.

Sports and associated events are generally governed by a set of rules orcustoms which serve to provide for fair competition and a consistentmethod for determining a winner. Winning can be determined by physicalevents such as scoring goals or crossing a line first, or by thedetermination of judges who are scoring elements of the performance,including objective or subjective measures such as technical performanceor artistic impression.

Records of performance are often kept and this information may be widelyannounced or reported. In addition, sports events are a major source ofentertainment for non-participants. Some spectators may also placewagers on the outcome of a sporting event, or on the performance of anindividual participant or team performing in a sports event.

“Horse race” generally refers to any race or other sporting event wherehorses participate in the event. In such events, horses may be listed asthe participants in the event. Examples include, but are not limited to,Thoroughbred, Quarter horse, and Standardbred racing.

“Identifier” generally refers to a name that identifies (that is, labelsthe identity of) either a unique thing or a unique class of things,where the “object” or class may be an idea, physical object (or classthereof), or physical substance (or class thereof). The abbreviation“ID” often refers to identity, identification (the process ofidentifying), or an identifier (that is, an instance of identification).An identifier may or may not include words, numbers, letters, symbols,shapes, colors, sounds, or any combination of those.

The words, numbers, letters, or symbols may follow an encoding system(wherein letters, digits, words, or symbols represent ideas or longeridentifiers) or they may simply be arbitrary. When an identifier followsan encoding system, it is often referred to as a code or ID code.Identifiers that do not follow any encoding scheme are often said to bearbitrary IDs because they are arbitrarily assigned without meaning inany other context beyond identifying something.

“Input Device” generally refers to any device coupled to a computer thatis configured to receive input and deliver the input to a processor,memory, or other part of the computer. Such input devices can includekeyboards, mice, trackballs, touch sensitive pointing devices such astouchpads, or touchscreens. Input devices also include any sensor orsensor array for detecting environmental conditions such as temperature,light, noise, vibration, humidity, and the like.

“Memory” generally refers to any storage system or device configured toretain data or information. Each memory may include one or more types ofsolid-state electronic memory, magnetic memory, or optical memory, justto name a few. Memory may use any suitable storage technology, orcombination of storage technologies, and may be volatile, nonvolatile,or a hybrid combination of volatile and nonvolatile varieties. By way ofnon-limiting example, each memory may include solid-state electronicRandom Access Memory (RAM), Sequentially Accessible Memory (SAM) (suchas the First-In, First-Out (FIFO) variety or the Last-In-First-Out(LIFO) variety), Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), ElectronicallyProgrammable Read Only Memory (EPROM), or Electrically ErasableProgrammable Read Only Memory (EEPROM).

Memory can refer to Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) or any variants,including static random access memory (SRAM), Burst SRAM or Synch BurstSRAM (BSRAM), Fast Page Mode DRAM (FPM DRAM), Enhanced DRAM (EDRAM),Extended Data Output RAM (EDO RAM), Extended Data Output DRAM (EDODRAM), Burst Extended Data Output DRAM (REDO DRAM), Single Data RateSynchronous DRAM (SDR SDRAM), Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), DirectRambus DRAM (DRDRAM), or Extreme Data Rate DRAM (XDR DRAM).

Memory can also refer to non-volatile storage technologies such asnon-volatile read access memory (NVRAM), flash memory, non-volatilestatic RAM (nvSRAM), Ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), Magnetoresistive RAM(MRAM), Phase-change memory (PRAM), conductive-bridging RAM (CBRAM),Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon (SONOS), Resistive RAM (RRAM),Domain Wall Memory (DWM) or “Racetrack” memory, Nano-RAM (NRAM), orMillipede memory. Other non-volatile types of memory include opticaldisc memory (such as a DVD or CD ROM), a magnetically encoded hard discor hard disc platter, floppy disc, tape, or cartridge media. The conceptof a “memory” includes the use of any suitable storage technology or anycombination of storage technologies.

“Module” or “Engine” generally refers to a collection of hardwarecomputational or logic circuits, or to a series of logic orcomputational instructions expressed in executable, object, or sourcecode, or any combination thereof, configured to perform certain tasks orfunctions. A module may be implemented in software maintained involatile memory in a computer and executed by a processor or othercircuit. A module may be implemented as software stored in anerasable/programmable nonvolatile memory and executed by a processor orprocessors. A module may be implanted as software coded into anApplication Specific Information Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or themodule may also be a collection of digital or analog circuits configuredto operate according to the desired outcome.

“Multiple” as used herein is synonymous with the term “plurality” andrefers to more than one, or by extension, two or more.

“Network” or “Computer Network” generally refers to a telecommunicationsnetwork that allows computers to exchange data. Computers can pass datato each other along data connections by transforming data into acollection of datagrams or packets. The connections between computersand the network may be established using either cables, optical fibers,or via electromagnetic transmissions such as for wireless networkdevices.

Computers coupled to a network may be referred to as “nodes” or as“hosts” and may originate, broadcast, route, or accept data from thenetwork. Nodes can include any computing device such as personalcomputers, phones, servers as well as specialized computers that operateto maintain the flow of data across the network, referred to as “networkdevices”. Two nodes can be considered “networked together” when onedevice is able to exchange information with another device, whether ornot they have a direct connection to each other.

Examples of wired network connections may include Digital SubscriberLines (DSL), coaxial cable lines, or optical fiber lines. The wirelessconnections may include BLUETOOTH, Worldwide Interoperability forMicrowave Access (WiMAX), infrared channel or satellite band, or anywireless local area network (Wi-Fi) such as those implemented using theInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) 802.11standards (e.g. 802.11(a), 802.11(b), 802.11(g), or 802.11(n) to name afew). Wireless links may also include or use any cellular networkstandards used to communicate among mobile devices including 1G, 2G, 3G,or 4G. The network standards may qualify as 1G, 2G, etc. by fulfilling aspecification or standards such as the specifications maintained byInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU). For example, a network maybe referred to as a “3G network” if it meets the criteria in theInternational Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specificationregardless of what it may otherwise be referred to. A network may bereferred to as a “4G network” if it meets the requirements of theInternational Mobile Telecommunications Advanced (IMTAdvanced)specification. Examples of cellular network or other wireless standardsinclude AMPS, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, LTE, LTE Advanced, Mobile WiMAX, andWiMAX-Advanced.

Cellular network standards may use various channel access methods suchas FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, or SDMA. Different types of data may be transmittedvia different links and standards, or the same types of data may betransmitted via different links and standards.

The geographical scope of the network may vary widely. Examples includea body area network (BAN), a personal area network (PAN), a local-areanetwork (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network(WAN), or the Internet.

A network may have any suitable network topology defining the number anduse of the network connections. The network topology may be of anysuitable form and may include point-to-point, bus, star, ring, mesh, ortree. A network may be an overlay network which is virtual and isconfigured as one or more layers that use or “lay on top of” othernetworks.

A network may utilize different communication protocols or messagingtechniques including layers or stacks of protocols. Examples include theEthernet protocol, the internet protocol suite (TCP/IP), the ATM(Asynchronous Transfer Mode) technique, the SONET (Synchronous OpticalNetworking) protocol, or the SDE1 (Synchronous Digital Elierarchy)protocol. The TCP/IP internet protocol suite may include applicationlayer, transport layer, internet layer (including, e.g., IPv6), or thelink layer.

“Odds” generally refers to a numerical expression indicating a ratio ofthe amounts staked by parties on opposite sides of a wager, or theamounts an odds maker is predicting will be staked by parties onopposing sides of a wager.

For example, the odds may be 2-1 of a participant finishing an eventwith a final ranking of 1 (i.e., the highest finishing position). Thisindicates that the possibility that this participant would achieve thathighest rank merits a return to the bettor of $2 in winnings for every$1 wagered. In a pari-mutuel pool environment, this would mean that ifthe participant finishes the event with the highest ranking, a bet of $2would return a payout of $6-$4 in winnings plus the original stake of$2. In another example, if the odds of the participant finishing withthe highest ranking are 1-1, a $2 bet would return a payout of $4 ($2 inwinnings plus the original $2 bet). In yet another example, at 3-1 oddsof finishing with the highest ranking, a $2 bet would return $8 ($6 inwinnings plus the original $2 bet) if that participant were to finish inthe highest position.

“Output Device” generally refers to any device or collection of devicesthat is controlled by computer to produce an output. This includes anysystem, apparatus, or equipment receiving signals from a computer tocontrol the device to generate or create some type of output. Examplesof output devices include, but are not limited to, screens or monitorsdisplaying graphical output, any projector a projecting deviceprojecting a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image, any kind ofprinter, plotter, or similar device producing either two-dimensional orthree-dimensional representations of the output fixed in any tangiblemedium (e.g. a laser printer printing on paper, a lathe controlled tomachine a piece of metal, or a three-dimensional printer producing anobject). An output device may also produce intangible output such as,for example, data stored in a database, or electromagnetic energytransmitted through a medium or through free space such as audioproduced by a speaker controlled by the computer, radio signalstransmitted through free space, or pulses of light passing through afiber-optic cable.

“Personal computing device” generally refers to a computing deviceconfigured for use by individual people. Examples include mobile devicessuch as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, wearablecomputers installed in items worn on the human body such as in eyeglasses, laptop computers, portable music/video players, computers inautomobiles, or cellular telephones such as smart phones. Personalcomputing devices can be devices that are typically not mobile such asdesk top computers, game consoles, or server computers. Personalcomputing devices may include any suitable input/output devices and maybe configured to access a network such as through a wireless or wiredconnection, and/or via other network hardware.

“Pari-mutuel betting” generally refers to a betting system in which allbets of a particular type are placed together in a common pool (ormultiple separate common pools). Taxes and the “house-take” or“take-out” are removed, and payoff odds are calculated by sharing thecommon pool among all winning bets. A totalizator can be used to managethe odds, pools, payouts, and other aspects of pari-mutuel betting.

Pari-mutuel betting differs from “fixed-odds betting” in that the finalpayout varies based on the size of the pool and the amounts wagered onvarious outcomes. In contrast, with fixed odds betting, the payout isagreed at the time the bet is made.

“Processor” generally refers to one or more electronic componentsconfigured to operate as a single unit configured or programmed toprocess input to generate an output. Alternatively, when of amulti-component form, a processor may have one or more componentslocated remotely relative to the others. One or more components of eachprocessor may be of the electronic variety defining digital circuitry,analog circuitry, or both. In one example, each processor is of aconventional, integrated circuit microprocessor arrangement, such as oneor more PENTIUM, i3, i5 or i7 processors supplied by INTEL Corporationof Santa Clara, Calif., USA. Other examples of commercially availableprocessors include but are not limited to the X8 and Freescale Coldfireprocessors made by Motorola Corporation of Schaumburg, Ill., USA; theARM processor and TEGRA system on a chip (SoC) processors manufacturedby Nvidia of Santa Clara, Calif., USA; the POWER7 processor manufacturedby International Business Machines of White Plains, N.Y., USA; any ofthe FX, Phenom, Athlon, Sempron, or Opteron processors manufactured byAdvanced Micro Devices of Sunnyvale, Calif., USA; or the Snapdragon SoCprocessors manufactured by Qalcomm of San Diego, Calif., USA.

A processor also includes Application-Specific Integrated Circuit(ASIC). An ASIC is an Integrated Circuit (IC) customized to perform aspecific series of logical operations is controlling a computer toperform specific tasks or functions. An ASIC is an example of aprocessor for a special purpose computer, rather than a processorconfigured for general-purpose use. An application-specific integratedcircuit generally is not reprogrammable to perform other functions andmay be programmed once when it is manufactured.

In another example, a processor may be of the “field programmable” type.Such processors may be programmed multiple times “in the field” toperform various specialized or general functions after they aremanufactured. A field-programmable processor may include aField-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) in an integrated circuit in theprocessor. FPGA may be programmed to perform a specific series ofinstructions which may be retained in nonvolatile memory cells in theFPGA. The FPGA may be configured by a customer or a designer using ahardware description language (HDL). In FPGA may be reprogrammed usinganother computer to reconfigure the FPGA to implement a new set ofcommands or operating instructions. Such an operation may be executed inany suitable means such as by a firmware upgrade to the processorcircuitry.

Just as the concept of a computer is not limited to a single physicaldevice in a single location, so also the concept of a “processor” is notlimited to a single physical logic circuit or package of circuits butincludes one or more such circuits or circuit packages possiblycontained to within or across multiple computers in numerous physicallocations. In a virtual computing environment, an unknown number ofphysical processors may be actively processing data, the unknown numbermay automatically change over time as well.

The concept of a “processor” includes a device configured or programmedto make threshold comparisons, rules comparisons, calculations, orperform logical operations applying a rule to data yielding a logicalresult (e.g. “true” or “false”). Processing activities may occur inmultiple single processors on separate servers, on multiple processorsin a single server with separate processors, or on multiple processorsphysically remote from one another in separate computing devices.

“Replay” generally refers to presenting a representation of a past eventusing any suitable technology. A replay may involve rendering and/ordisplaying a video recording of the event that may include actualfootage of the event as it occurred in the past. A replay may includerendering and/or displaying an animated representation of the event orthe outcome of the event, or any other later recreation of the eventafter it has taken place. Digital, analog, or computer generatedrepresentations may be rendered using any suitable technology ordevices, or by any combination thereof. A replay may include audiblerepresentations of the event results as well such as recorded audio thatmay be integrated with or separate from a video or other graphicalrepresentation.

“Scratch” generally refers to removing a participant from an eventbefore the event occurs. For example, a horse is said to “scratch” froma horse race if the horse is removed from the lineup before the race isrun.

“Statistical odds” generally refers to a numerical expression of thechance of a predicted outcome occurring. Odds in statistics aresometimes represented as a percentage, decimal number, or in a writtenform. For example, the odds of rolling a two with a fair die may beexpressed as being about 16.7%, 0.166666, or simply “one chance in six.“Odds against” may be used to express the likelihood that a particularevent will not take place.

“Terminal” generally refers to a device or assembly of multiple devicesthat a user directly interacts with in order to make assets (e.g. money)available for making bets, placing the actual bets themselves, andotherwise managing the betting process. Examples of terminals includemachines with any suitable combination display devices, input devices,processors, memory, and bill acceptors for taking money to wager. Suchmachines may be located in a betting facility at a location where theevents bettors are betting on are currently taking place, or have takenplace in the past (e.g. a horse racing track in the case of betting onhorse racing, or casino in the case of events such as boxing matchesthat take place in the casino). These devices may be configured tomanage the betting process, or may execute software configuring thedevice to facilitate the betting process.

Another example of a terminal is a personal or handheld computing devicesuch as a smart phone, tablet, a desktop or laptop personal computer,and the like, executing software configuring the device to facilitatethe betting process. Such devices may include or be coupled toprocessors, memory, and/or input, output, and display devices such askeyboards, mice, printers, barcode scanners, and various kinds of touchsensitive devices such as a touch sensitive display device, or aseparate touch sensitive pad. Such devices may include a networkinterface or other networking hardware controlled by the processor thatallows the device to be coupled to a computer network either wirelesslyor through any other suitable device or media. Devices with thesefeatures or attached equipment may collectively be considered a“terminal” where the devices include software configured to execute thebetting process. In this example, the terminal may also be remote fromthe location where the event being bet is taking place, or has alreadytaken place in the past.

“Totalizator” or “Totalisator” generally refers to a system that mayinclude hardware, software, communications equipment, input, output, andother electronic devices configured to accept and process the cashing ofwagers, calculate the odds and prices of the wagers, and record,display, and store pari-mutuel wagering information.

A totalizator system may include the following aspects:

1. Collecting bets from players (registers bets), for example, fromwagering terminals.

2. Separating player bets into a commission for the operator andmultiple prize pools for players to win (depending on the wager and mathmodel chosen by the player).

3. Awarding winning players an amount of the appropriate prize poolcommensurate with the winning event achieved by the player (and dividestotal amount bet among those who won).

4. Maintaining records of pari-mutuel wager events, outcomes, andactivity.

5. Providing accounting reports and management terminals to manage allaspects of the system.

“Wager” or “bet” generally refers to an amount of money or othervaluable asset intentionally put at risk by the better with theintention of receiving a return of assets with a value in excess of theamount initially put at risk. “Wagering” or “betting” thus generallyrefers to any process by which a wager or bet is made, and the resultscalculated. Wagering generally includes the better making a predictionas to an outcome that either has not yet materialized, or has alreadymaterialized but is unknown to the bettor. If the outcome matches theprediction made by the bettor turns out to be correct, the result ofplacing the wager is to return to the bettor assets whose valuegenerally exceeds the value of the asset put at risk. This “return” or“payout” may be accepted as physical currency such as actual papermoney, casino chips or types of vouchers that can later be redeemed foractual currency, or by an electronic funds transfer into an accountmaintained by the bettor. If the predicted outcome does not turn out tobe correct, the bettor generally loses some or all of the initial wager.

A wager may be placed based on any of a wide variety of outcomes such asthe score of a particular sporting event, the performance of members ofthe team of participants participating in a sporting event, the positionof individual competitors participating in an event such as a horserace, dog race, automobile race, and the like. Wagering may take placein the facility where the event is occurring (e.g. a track wherehorseracing is or has taken place), or wagers may be placed in onelocation based on events occurring, or that have occurred, in a separategeographical location.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: entering an amount tobe wagered using an input device coupled to a processor, wherein theprocessor is configured to initiate a transfer of the amount to bewagered into a common prize pool; retrieving from a database data abouteach different participant of multiple events that occurred in the past,wherein the data about the events includes a final ranking for each ofthe different participants, the final ranking indicating the outcome foreach of the different participants with respect to other participantswho competed in the same event of the multiple separate events; enteringa separate predicted ranking for each participant of each event of usingthe input device coupled to the processor, calculating a final resultusing the processor, wherein the final result is calculated by combiningthe separate predicted rankings for each of the separate events, andwherein the final score is calculated based on combinations ofdifferences between each of the predicted rankings and each of thecorresponding final rankings for each of participants of the multipleevents; wherein the probability of each participant obtaining thehighest final ranking in their respective event was calculated beforethe multiple events took place and stored in the database as part of thedata about the multiple participants; requesting the calculation of afinal prize amount using the input device, wherein the final prizeamount is a currency amount calculated using the processor based on thefinal result.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the events are horseraces, wherein the participants are horses, wherein the predictedranking is the predicted order of finish for the horses in each of thehorse races, and wherein the final ranking is the actual order of finishfor the horses competing in their respective races.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the data about multiple events that occurred in thepast includes data about horse races, and wherein the data about horseraces includes only races with 10 horse fields, where no horsesscratched from the race, where there were no dead heats, where therewere no coupled entries, where all horses finished the race, where allhorses had odds of winning that were greater than 0 at the time of therace, and/or where the facility hosting the race was located within theborders of the United States.
 4. The method of claim 1, comprising:requesting the transfer of the final prize amount using the inputdevice, wherein the processor is configured to initiate the transfer ofthe final prize amount from the common prize pool.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein calculating the final prize amount comprises:generating a wager result by comparing the predicted ranking to thefinal ranking for each participant of each event using the processor;assigning a probability of occurrence to the wager result by using theprocessor to query the data about the events to determine the frequencyof the outcome represented by the wager result.
 6. The method of claim5, wherein the wager result includes a first identifier for eachparticipant in each event wherein the final ranking and predictedranking match, and a second identifier for each participant in eachevent wherein the final ranking and predicted ranking do not match. 7.The method of claim 5, wherein the prize amount is calculated using theprobability of occurrence assigned to the wager result, and whereinwager results with a probability below a predetermined threshold resultin a zero prize amount.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the prizeamount is calculated using the probability of occurrence assigned to thewager result, and wherein wager results with a probability of occurrenceless than a predetermined threshold result in a zero prize amount. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein the input device includes a touch screenmounted in a terminal and coupled to the processor, wherein theprocessor is mounted in the terminal.
 10. The method of claim 9, whereinthe terminal is a personal computing device.
 11. The method of claim 9,wherein the terminal includes an electronic scanning device configuredto accept paper currency or a credit voucher, and wherein the electronicscanning device is configured to operate in conjunction with the inputdevice to enter the amount to be wagered.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein the database is stored in an electronic storage device mountedwithin the terminal.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the database isstored in an electronic storage device mounted outside the terminal, andwherein the processor is coupled to the database using a computernetwork.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the data about the multipleevents retrieved from the database are randomly selected from the eventsstored in the database.
 15. The method of claim 1, comprising: using theprocessor to control a display device to display a video representationof at least one of the multiple events on the display device.
 16. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the number of events in the multiple eventsis at least
 3. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the events are teamcompetitions, wherein the participants are teams of individualcompetitors, wherein the predicted ranking is the predicted outcome forthe team in each of the team competitions, and wherein the final rankingis the actual outcome for the teams competing in their respective teamcompetitions.
 18. A system, comprising: a display device configured todisplay output to a user; an input device configured to accept inputfrom a user; a processor coupled to a memory, the input device, and theoutput device; a computer network accessible by the processor, whereinthe processor is configured to access a database using the computernetwork; a terminal, wherein the display device, input device,processor, and memory are mounted to the terminal; a process controlmodule configured to use the processor to initiate a transfer of anamount to be wagered into a common prize pool, and to use the processorto initiate a transfer of a prize amount out of the common prize poolwhen the prize amount is greater than zero, wherein the common prizepool is maintained in the database; an event selection engine configuredto use the processor to retrieve event data about each differentparticipant of multiple events that occurred in the past, wherein thedata about the events includes a final ranking for each of theparticipants, the final ranking indicating the outcome for each of theparticipants with respect to other participants who competed in the sameevent of the multiple separate events; a pre-event ranking moduleconfigured to calculate an initial ranking for each participant in thecombination of multiple events using the processor, wherein the initialrankings are calculated using the final ranking for each of theparticipants; a user interface module configured to control the displaydevice to display the initial rankings using the processor; a scoringmodule configured to calculate a final score based on the differencebetween the user selected rankings for the participants and finalrankings of the participants using the processor, wherein the finalrankings are ranked according to the actual results of the event thatoccurred in the past; and a prize selection module configured tocalculate the prize amount using the processor, wherein the prize amountis a currency amount based on the final score and the amount to bewagered.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the user interface moduleis configured to accept user input defining user selected rankings,wherein the user selected rankings are defined by changing the initialrankings for at least one participant for at least one of the selectedevents using the input device.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein theevents are horse races, wherein the participants are horses, wherein thepredicted ranking is the predicted order of finish for the horses ineach of the horse races, and where the final ranking is the actual orderof finish for the horses competing in their respective horse races. 21.The system of claim 18, wherein the data about multiple events thatoccurred in the past includes data about horse races, and wherein thedata about horse races includes only races with 10 horse fields, whereno horses scratched from the race, where there were no dead heats, wherethere were no coupled entries, where all horses finished the race, whereall horses had odds of winning that were greater than 0 at the time ofthe race, and/or where the facility hosting the race was located withinthe borders of the United States.
 22. The system of claim 18, whereincalculating the final score comprises: generating a wager result bycomparing the predicted ranking to the final ranking for eachparticipant of each event using the processor; assigning a probabilityof occurrence to the wager result by using the processor to query thedata about the events to determine the frequency of the outcomerepresented by the wager result.
 23. The system of claim 22, wherein thewager result includes a first identifier for each participant in eachevent wherein the final ranking and predicted ranking match, and asecond identifier for each participant in each event wherein the finalranking and predicted ranking do not match.
 24. The method of claim 22,wherein the prize amount is calculated using the probability ofoccurrence assigned to the wager result, and wherein wager results witha probability below a predetermined threshold result in a zero prizeamount.
 25. The system of claim 18, wherein the data about the multipleevents retrieved from the database are randomly selected from the eventsstored in the database.
 26. The system of claim 18, wherein the eventsare dog races, wherein the participants are dogs, wherein the predictedranking is the predicted order of finish for the dogs in each of the dograces, and wherein the final ranking is the actual order of finish forthe dogs competing in their respective races.
 27. The method of claim18, wherein the events are team competitions, wherein the participantsare teams of individual competitors, wherein the predicted ranking isthe predicted outcome for the team in each of the team competitions, andwherein the final ranking is the actual outcome for the teams competingin their respective team competitions.
 28. The method of claim 1,comprising: rendering an animated replay of at least one of the multipleevents completed in the past using the processor, wherein the animatedreplay includes a graphical representation of at least a portion of thedata about the multiple participants retrieved from the database; andusing the processor to control a display device to display the animatedreplay of at least one of the multiple events that occurred in the past.29. The system of claim 18, wherein the user interface module isconfigured to use the processor to render an animated replay of at leastone of the multiple events completed in the past, and wherein theanimated replay includes a graphical representation of at least aportion of the data about the multiple participants retrieved from thedatabase.
 30. A method, comprising: controlling an input device toaccept a wager amount defining an amount of a currency to wager, whereinthe input device is controlled by a processor; using the processor toautomatically retrieve data about each participant of multiple eventsthat occurred in the past, wherein the data about the events includes afinal ranking for each of the participants, the final ranking indicatingthe outcome for each of the different participants with respect to otherparticipants who competed in the same event of the multiple separateevents; controlling the input device to accept predicted final rankingsfor the participants of the events using the processor; calculating afinal score using the processor, wherein the final score is calculatedbased on the difference between the predicted rankings and the finalrankings of the participants; rendering an animated replay of at leastone of the multiple events completed in the past using the processor,wherein the animated replay includes a graphical representation of atleast a portion of the data about the multiple participants retrievedfrom the database; and using the processor to control a display deviceto display the animated replay of at least one of the multiple pastevents.
 31. The method of claim 30, wherein accepting the predictedrankings includes accepting input changing the final ranking on thedisplay for at least one of the multiple participants who competed inthe same event.